KINGS OF BROADWAY 2020 is an online concert celebrating the music of the legendary Broadway composers Jule Styne, Jerry Herman & Stephen Sondheim (the latter two whose lyrics will also be celebrated). It will premiere at 7PM on Sunday 31st May via the 'Quick Fantastic' channel on YouTube.
The stars of Piaf - which should have been performed at Nottingham Playhouse and Leeds Playhouse this spring - have come together for an exclusive performance of Hymne a L'Amour. The piece, initiated by Director Adam Penford and Musical Director Alex Parker, gives audiences an exclusive taste of what to expect from the postponed production.
Hampstead Theatre's Associate Company, The Mono Box, has announced the launch of The Monologue Library, audio recordings of renowned artists performing their favourite theatrical speeches.
'We then travel to the exciting opening night of Disney's musical, The Little Mermaid and I asked an exuberant Sierra Boggess, who was making her Broadway debut as Ariel, what that magical day meant to her. 'Did it really happen tonight? Are we sure that that just happened! Before I went on stage tonight, I felt my heart pounding because I was just so excited and there was such anticipation and I realized all I had to do tonight was share Ariel.''
Stephen Sondheim is today celebrating his 90th birthday - all best wishes from BroadwayWorld! You can mark this special day by watching the BBC Prom dedicated to the great man's 80th birthday, which will be repeated tonight on BBC Four.
Nottingham Playhouse and Leeds Playhouse have announced more of the casting for their upcoming co-production, Piaf. It includes the news that Sally Ann Triplett is set to reunite with friend Jenna Russell for their first performance together since 1987, in the West End premiere of Sondheim's seminal musical, Follies.
The Donmar Warehouse announces casting for Ellen McDougall's new production of Suzan-Lori Parks' play In the Blood. Nikki Amuka-Bird will return to the Donmar in the role of Hester alongside April Koyejo-Audiger, Paul Bazely, Ginny Holder, Martins Imhangbe, Sinead Matthews and Sule Rimi.
Full casting has been announced for Hello, Dolly! as one of the most iconic musicals of all time comes to the Adelphi Theatre this summer. This brand new production is headlined by Imelda Staunton, as she reunites with director Dominic Cooke, following the critically acclaimed production of Follies at the National Theatre.
The Donmar Warehouse has announced that Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell will curate a series of intimate evenings of music and song performed in the iconic setting of the Donmar auditorium. Each cabaret evening will feature the best of musical theatre, with a programme of songs by Stephen Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, Noël Coward and Lin-Manuel Miranda. From its early days as a rehearsal studio for the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, to the hugely successful Divas at the Donmar series in the early 2000s, the Donmar has presented outstanding musical talent over many years, and is delighted to continue this tradition with Donmar Lates.
Hampstead Theatre, announces Hampstead Classics, its spring/summer programme, to mark its 60th anniversary and celebrate its ambitious history as a new writing theatre. Featuring four bold plays from the theatre's eclectic archive, the productions will be performed in chronological order and staged in the thrust, by a variety of distinctive British directors.
Love Story: 10th Anniversary Concert will feature original cast members Michael D. Xavier (Oliver Barrett), Emma Williams (Jenny Cavilleri) and Peter Polycarpou (Phil Cavilleri). This concert marks the 10th Anniversary of Love Story's premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2010, before a run at the West End's Duchess Theatre.
In 2019, I reviewed 30 shows for BroadwayWorld, but I actually wrote more interviews - around 50 articles on my count. Here's my attempt to pick out some highlights alongside the other pieces of theatre I saw this year.